About Me

I am a master planner and a self-professed book dragon. As the Launch and Operations Specialist at Author Accelerator, I work to help authors achieve their dream of completing a book. In my spare time, I read and review books.

Introducing C.N. Crawford, author | In the Spotlight Interview

In the Spotlight feature kicked off in April 2015 and is an opportunity for authors, editors and publishers (basically anyone in the book industry (yes, even bloggers!)) to connect with fans. There is an option to do an interview, guest post, feature a book sale or book release or a cover reveal. Best of all, it’s free! All you need to do is click on the image to reserve your spot!

Now on with the show!

Today author C.N. Crawford steps In the Spotlight to share about the new book in their Memento Mori Series, A Witch’s Feast which I reviewed earlier this week. If you don’t already know, C.N. is not one author, but two!

In the Spotlight with C.N. Crawford

Welcome to Second Run Reviews, C.N.! Thank you for being In the Spotlight. I appreciate you stopping by and answering a few questions. So let’s get things started

In a tweet (140 characters or less), tell us a bit about yourself.

C has a lifelong interest in New England’s oldest cemeteries and grim history.

N is an amazing mixologist and an outdoorsman who is impervious to the cold.

I imagine you sitting around a campfire with stiff drinks telling creepy ghost stories. 🙂

Please tell a bit about your journey to becoming a published author. What’s been the best things about it and the worst?

The Witching Elm began on a trip to Paris when we conceived of a story about a boy who traveled from a magical world into our own. As soon as we returned from our trip, he began writing about a boy who flew as a crow to a creaky old Boston school. I got hooked on the story, and began constructing Tobias’s eerie New England world, gradually taking over the story. The best things are that we have a shared passion for these stories, so we can sit down together and delve into the world. N is now heading up a spin-off series that I’m very excited about.

The hardest thing is trying to write while sleep deprived from living with a 2-year-old who has never slept.

First all, I’m dying to go to Paris so I’m jealous! Second…a spinoff series? I can’t wait to check it out.

Many readers may not know, but C.N. Crawford is actually a pseudonym. Your novels, The Witching Elm, and The Witch’s Feast were co-written. What is the collaboration process like for you? Why did you feel that co-writing a book would be best for you?

C: For the first series, I’ve done a lot of the first drafts, and N. goes over them with notes. For the second series, N. is writing the first draft and I have the free reign to just change things. Oddly, we’ve had almost no arguments about writing and we tend to agree with each other. However, when we embarked on a book-related crafts project, it got ugly. Never do crafts with a loved one.

N: The collaboration is actually the most fun part of the whole process. We brainstorm the plots together, and I get to read everything that C. writes within minutes of the words being put on the page. It’s exciting being part of something together.

Noted about the crafts. 🙂

I guess a benefit of living with the author is that perhaps you don’t have to wait as long as the fans to find out what happens next and since you are working on the project together you get to work that out as a team!

When I first read The Witching Elm, it had a different cover. It was recently changed and The Witch’s Feast was designed with the same look and feel as the newer cover of The Witching Elm. Why did you decide to change the cover? What process did you go through in developing and designing the new cover?

I loved the first cover, but the genre wasn’t clear. Most YA fantasy books with teenage characters feature a picture of one of the characters, or they have an ethereal look. Our first cover looked a little more like a horror novel. We’re lucky to have an amazing designer now, and I can just give him a few ideas, and he runs with it to create something beautiful.

The new cover is amazing. If you’ve taken a look at the review for A Witch’s Feast several people have comment on the beautiful cover. Visual artists are amazing. I don’t have that ability.

What types of books do you enjoy reading the most? What three books to you find yourself recommending to your fans over and over?

C: We both like YA fantasy, and my top two recommendations would be Angelfall and the Throne of Glass books. My other loves are historical fiction, gothic romances, and psychological thrillers. Gillian Flynn rocks my world.

N: I’m reading Throne of Glass right at this moment, but before that I was reading Hugh Howey’s Dust series. I find I tend to jump between genres though I have a soft spot for Sci Fi.

And then there are the steamy romances. But we don’t talk about those in public.

I’ve been curious about the Throne of Glass series. I have not read one yet, but I’m intrigued by the buzz on the blogs. And, I will agree, Gillian Flynn rocks my world, too. It took reading all of her books to appreciate her growth and style as an author.

What is your current obsession? Any secret obsessions you would like to share?

C: It’s sort of embarrassing because I share at least one obsession with a main character. Fiona and I are both obsessed with Lord Byron. I think I’ve read every biography that exists about him. And like Jack, I’m really into puritan gravestones.

N: I have a PhD in lizard evolution. Take that as you will.

There is nothing wrong with a strong obsession with a historical figure. I’ll admit I have a weird obsession with ancient Egypt and have probably watch every single Discover documentary ever released on that era.

Ah, lizard evolution…I don’t even know what to say. Weird and I hope you write fantastic book about it.

Any last thoughts or wise words you want to pass along?

In our current works in progress, we’re both amping up the romance elements a bit. This, as it turns out, is really fun to write so it might be a staple in the future. We love hearing from readers, so if anyone wants to email and tell us what kind of love interests you like, please do! cncrawfordauthor@gmail.com

Well, there you have it fans! A chance to email the authors and share your favorite love themes and influence their next release. Seems somewhat appropriate with Valentine’s Day a short time away.

Thank you for stopping by today, C.N. I hope you’ll come back when you release the next book in the Memento Mori Series and the spinoff series. I can’t wait to learn more.

The Overview

The Witching Elm

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old sorcerer Tobias Corvin tumbles through a blizzard and arrives—half frozen and half dead—in another world. Trapped in Boston, he tries to blend in at an old boarding school while secretly plotting to save his home.

But if anything can distract him from his mission, it’s the wild-haired and intriguing Fiona. She is determined to learn the truth about his dangerous magic.

When a spectral army from Toby’s world begins slaughtering Bostonians, he and Fiona must stop the carnage. They face unspeakable dangers unearthing the dark secrets of New England’s past—a past that holds the key to saving both worlds from destruction.

From My Review: My mind is reeling after reading The Witching Elm by C.N. Crawford. This novel is jammed packed with creepy supernatural creatures, a mysterious world that sits parallel to Boston and a coven of down-on-their-luck kids trying to save TWO worlds. It’s a page turner to say the least! A page-turner that ends on a cliff hanger! Read more.

A Witch's Feast

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Synopsis: There are new rules governing the country–namely, no magic. But Fiona Forzese has never been good with rules…

After a ghostly army terrorized Boston, the Ranulf family say they’ll help Fiona and her classmates finish up junior year. They say their old Virginia plantation is a safe haven. All Fiona and her secret coven have to do is show up to a few math and English classes.

It should be a perfect solution. And it would be, if the Ranulfs weren’t members of a witch-hunting cult.

As Fiona digs deeper into the Ranulf’s past, she learns a dark truth that shocks her to her core. But it isn’t only the Ranulfs who are keeping secrets, and as the witch-hunting cult closes in, Fiona is forced to confront the demons of her own past.

From my Review: There is a lot of action and a crazy, creepy cult. More political maneuverings and commentary about who has the right to wield the power of magic. There are some big topics up for discussion in this book and the kids in the story don’t take them lightly. Read more.

About C.N. Crawford

C.N. Crawford is not one person but two. Christine (C) grew up in the historic town of Lexington, and has a lifelong interest in New England folklore – with a particular fondness for creepy old cemeteries. Nick (N) spent his childhood reading fantasy and science fiction further north during Vermont’s long winters.

Together they work to incorporate real historical events and figures into contemporary urban fantasy novels.

This was wonderful and hilarious!! I’m especially laughing at that bit about the crafts. NOTED. XD I haven’t ever heard of these books but omg those covers hook me in straight away…*dashes off to goodreasd to read further*